Compact Morpho-Molecular Microscopy for Live-cell Imaging and Material Characterization

The Compact Morpho-Molecular Microscopy (CM3) is proposed and demonstrated for multi-functional imaging and characterization of living cells and material structures by simultaneously offering quantitative phase imaging (QPI), dispersion characterization, and fluorescence imaging. The compactness and stability of CM3 are realized by propagating lasers of different wavelengths in specially treated optical fibers and fiber-based beam splitters and wavelength division multiplexers, as well as simplifying the detection scheme through Fourier-space multiplexing and implementing a single camera for both QPI and fluorescence imaging. Quantitative phase maps of two wavelengths are retrieved from a multiplexed interferogram, and a synthesized wavelength phase map is derived to guide the height profiling of samples with extended depth. With the wavelength resolved phase maps, a physical model is derived to obtain sample dispersion parameters, which further enables us to quantify the hemoglobin concentration of red blood cells in real time. By inserting an appropriate emission color filter, fluorescence imaging is realized using the same camera, which significantly broadens the cell imaging applications of CM3. As a cost-effective and multifaceted imaging method, CM3 may find many promising applications in live-cell imaging and material characterization. For a comprehensive investigation of biological and material structures, Compact Morpho-Molecular Microscopy is proposed. The article shows the characterization of living cells and materials by simultaneously offering quantitative phase imaging, dispersion characterization, and fluorescence imaging. The method can also achieve high-speed mapping of sample properties and imaging samples with large thicknesses. image